WINNERS OF “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” ART CONTEST ANNOUNCED

WESTON, CT- June 9, 2021 Two grand prize winners and 10 finalists have been selected from 179 entries in the 2021 “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” calendar art contest sponsored by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States (CIP-OAS). Each year, these organizations invite students in grades K-12 throughout the Americas to create a poster on a theme related to the marine environment. A 2022 bilingual calendar showcasing the winning entries will be printed in English and Spanish. Students were asked to submit an original poster that creatively depicts the vital role seafarers play in global shipping. Maritime shipping has existed for thousands of years – ever since the earliest humans took to the water to find food, building supplies, exchange goods and adventure. Throughout its history, shipping has evolved into the most environmentally friendly and safest way to transport goods around the world. Today, the maritime shipping industry transports about 90% of the items people use every day like clothes, cars, furniture, toothbrushes, phones and computers. In essence, global trade relies on shipping. And shipping relies on seafarers. The global pandemic has brought into focus the important role seafarers place in the maritime industry. Many seafarers have been facing extended time at sea due to restrictions put in place by the pandemic – some going months without seeing family. As we enter 2021 the focus on the well-being of seafarers’ health and safety is forefront in the safe delivery of the world’s goods and energy. The winning artwork will be featured on NAMEPA, Coast Guard, and CIP-OAS websites. Finalists will receive a certificate and a calendar with the artwork from all 12 winners. Two grand-prize winning artists (one from each of the grade brackets) will receive, in addition to the certificate and calendar, a $100 cash prize and a USCG prize package. To view the winning “Seafarers: at the core of shipping’s future” artwork visit namepa.net/art-contest.

Grand Prize Winners

Grades K-5
Ahdia M – Grade 3, Valley View Elementary, Rocklin, California, United States

Grades 6-12
Jolie Z – Grade 7, Wang Qi Art Institute, San Francisco, California, United States

Finalists

Grades K-5
Arianna B. Grade 5, College Park Elementary, San Mateo, California, United States
Nathan B. Grade K, Cootes Paradise Elementary School, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Clara L. Grade 5, Spicewood Elementary School, Austin, Texas , United States
Ahdia M. Grade 3, Valley View Elementary Rocklin, California , United States
Ada N. Grade 5, Valley View Elementary, Rocklin, California, United States
Hsing-Yu L. Grade 3, Oster Elementary School, San Jose, California, United States

Grades 6-12
Amanda G. Grade 9, The Pine School, Hobe Sound, Florida, United States
Ying-Chen L. Grade 6, Dartmouth Middle School, San Jose, California, United States
Ava M. Grade 10, Mundelein High School, Mundelein, Illinois, United States
Camila N. Grade 7, St. Francis of Assisi, Cordova, Tennessee, United States
Isabel T. Grade 11, Northview High School, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Jolie Z. Grade 7, Wang Qi Art Institute, San Francisco, California, United States

About the North American Marine Environment Protection Association
The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources. For more information visit www.namepa.net.

About the United States Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed forces of the United States and the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security. Since 1790 the Coast Guard has safeguarded our maritime and environmental interests around the world. The Coast Guard is an adaptable, responsive military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, capable assets, geographic diversity and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence along our rivers, in the ports, littoral regions and on the high seas. Coast Guard presence and impact is local, regional, national and international. These attributes make the Coast Guard a unique instrument of maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.uscg.mil.

About CIP-OAS
The Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS) brings together the National Port Authorities of all 35 sovereign nations of the Americas. CIP promotes competitive, sustainable, inclusive and secure maritime sector development by facilitating policy dialogue at the highest governmental and corporate levels. With close to 100 public and private members representing leading institutions from the maritime industry, CIP strengthens, in collaboration with its partners, institutional and human capacities through seminars, workshops, conferences, courses and scholarship programs. CIP priority areas include, in addition to promoting the protection of the marine environment and sustainable port management practices, competitiveness and logistics; protection and security; tourism and services to ships; legislation and regulation; and CSR and gender equality. For more information, visit http://portalcip.org/.